RITUALS

Let’s start with your latest recording. When you look back at it now what kind of feelings do you have for it?
-I think the overall feeling from the band is very positive. Doing the entire recording and mixing process internally was quite strenuous, but the end result is something that represents what Rituals is all about. I think the the songs are really strong, and the feedback we have had has been incredible.

I am fascinated by band names. What was it that made you settle on the one you have and what does it mean to you?
-The band name is something I had in my head for a long time, and this project was finally the right opportunity to put it to good use. It can be interpreted in any way the listener sees fit.

What does it mean to you that there are people out there that actually appreciate and look forward to what you are doing?
-It is really awesome. We have received a lot of kind words after gigs that we have played, but since Neoteric Commencements has been released we have received praise from all over the world. It really means a lot, and it instills motivation to write more material and perform in more places.

How important is image to the band? What impression do you want the fans to get of the band?
-I think physical image of the members is not at all important, however there is a certain aesthetic we would like to keep with artwork/logos etc.

I am a huge fan of LP art work. How important is it to have the right art work for your album?
-This is a good question. We had a few different images ready to go for Neoteric Commencements, but none of them really conveyed the themes of the EP properly in our opinion. When we settled on the artwork that was used, we were all in agreement and all very satisfied with the result. It matches the mood of the music perfectly.

We live in a superficial world today where you don’t exist if you are not on Youtube and Facebook. Has social media been only beneficial in socializing with the fans or is there a down side to it too?
-Social media is an incredible tool for spreading your band or business further than ever before. Yes, some people abuse it – but it allows for people in other parts of the world who would have otherwise not heard of you become a fan, buy a CD, and follow what you are doing.

When you play in a band does it feel like you are a part of a massive community? That you belong to something that gives meaning to your life?
-Most of the time it does, yes. The metal community is made up of predominantly awesome people, whether they have their own band or are just a fan of metal. I can’t speak for others, but no I can’t say that the metal community gives meaning to my life. It is definitely positive, but not life-defining.

When you are in the middle of it do you notice what state our beloved music scene is in? Is the scene healthy or does it suffer from some ailment?
-I hear a lot of people complain that scenes are over-saturated. This may be true, but the amount of incredible active bands is larger than ever before. There are bands doing things that no-one ever thought of, to a higher quality than ever before. Sure, there is a lot of crummy music getting a lot of airtime, but so what? With Youtube, Bandcamp and Spotify you can ignore those artists and listen to all the awesome shit you want to.

How much of a touring band are you guys? How hard is it to get gigs outside of your borders?
-We have toured interstate, but not much as yet. We are fortunate to know a few bands in different parts of our country, so venturing out of Victoria isn’t too hard.